CNN Uncovers Emails Detailing Additional Involvement from Graham Spanier and Joe Paterno

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In case you haven’t yet seen coverage of this on the cable news network, ESPN, ABC, the New York Times or every other major outlet, here’s a summary of the story that was broken by CNN last night: 

Susan Candiotti was given access to the contents of emails sent in 2001 between the worst university president in the history of the world, Graham Spanier, vice president Gary Schultz, and athletic director Tim Curley. The emails – which were filled with heavy pronoun use, presumably to protect against future incrimination (oops) – show that the officials had working knowledge of Jerry Sandusky’s shower abuse witnessed by Mike McQueary and, seemingly, a 1998 incident that Schultz later claimed he knew nothing about.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that there was email evidence against the vice president and athletic director. In the emails seen by CNN (though they don’t have the actual emails), Schultz wrote that handling the allegations in-house, as opposed to contacting police or other authorities, was “the more humane and upfront way to handle this.”

The exchanges are not as damning as some news outlets would have you believe. For Curley and Schultz, the emails simply help to confirm what was pretty apparent– that the men knew more about what Sandusky was doing in the showers at Penn State. But, we do learn of additional involvement from Spanier… and Joe Paterno.

Based on their emails, Spanier, Schultz and Curley concocted a plan for Curley to speak with Sandusky, inform his charity (Second Mile) and contact the Department of Welfare about the allegations.

The latter two actions never occurred.

One day after being handed that uncomfortable to-do list, Curley backtracked. From CNN:

Curley indicates he no longer wants to contact child welfare authorities just yet. He refers to a conversation the day before with Paterno. It's not known what Paterno may have said to Curley.

Curley writes: "After giving it more thought and talking it over with Joe yesterday, I am uncomfortable with what we agreed were the next steps."

The athletic director apparently preferred to keep the situation an internal affair and talk things over with Sandusky instead of notifying the state's child welfare agency to investigate Sandusky's suspicious activity. 

"I am having trouble with going to everyone, but the person involved," Curley allegedly continues. 

 

The use of the name “Joe” is the only time in these email exchanges that a pronoun wasn’t used in place of those involved. “Subject," “guests” and "charitable organization" were used to refer to Sandusky, the children and Second Mile.

Curley wrote that he would speak with Sandusky and work with him to get professional help. If Sandusky agreed to do so, the Second Mile and outside authorities wouldn’t be contacted.

Spanier replied: “Acceptable. The only downside for us is if the message (to Sandusky) isn't 'heard' and acted upon, and we then become vulnerable for not having reported it.”

Indeed.

Spanier added: “But that can be assessed down the down the road. The approach you outline is humane and a reasonable way to proceed.” 

And that’s where we are now… down the road, a strip of pavement, which, for the next 10 years, provided a safe haven for Jerry Sandusky to rape little boys.

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27 Responses

  1. It’s a shame how much some people worship sports figures. Evidence can come out that proves Joe Paterno knew more and did nothing and many PSU alumns would still fight that he did nothing wrong. I agree w/ the above, Melt the statue.

  2. Can’t wait to see how the Penn State apologists handle this one. “He probably didn’t fully understand what Curley was saying because he was too old and innocent, eventhough he coached half a decades worth of college football on a national stage after that.”
    “It could be another guy named joe!”
    Or my personal favorite, “He did so much good for the school and community, one mistake can’t erase all that.” Yeah, ya know who else did a lot of good for the school and community? Sandusky himself. Don’t think anyone’s excusing him, and they shouldn’t be excusing the man who is partly responsible for allowing this monster to go unchecked for years.
    This phrase should be coined and put on tee shirts or something: Melt that fucking statue.

  3. although i do agree joe pa is a prick (yes, melt the statue) for knowing and doing nothing…Graham Spanier whom i wish would slip in puddle of aids, had a responsibility as university president to take action. he is a scumbag for letting jerry do what he did and hiding it to protect jerry from imprisonment at that time…. joe pa should have done something, yes. but graham was at the top of chain of command!

  4. “Melt the Statue?” Its a good thing we, as a country, don’t rush to judgement on things…..I’d hate to have ALL the facts before I make an informed decision.

  5. Oh shut up Nick S, we all know he knew about it and did nothing to take action to protect those young boys. Scumbag apologist.

  6. I’m not apologizing for anything. Why don’t you relax. I’m just saying wait for the report to pass judgement instead of assuming that everyone was in on this. “Scumbag apologist” you must be one of the good people that this world so desperately needs.

  7. The report has come out that he already knew, that he insisted they don’t involve authorities. He was the second person who knew after it was discovered. It’s widespread knowledge, and this e-mail release further proves that. How can you say otherwise?
    I’m clearly better than JoePa and people like you defending him, that’s for damn sure.

  8. Where are the actual emails? Post the damn things and get the speculation done and over. Tim Curley and every single person who knew anything about it should go on trial and fill the prison block with Sandusky and his protectors. Done with the silly arguments, ignorance is unacceptable.

  9. It’s amazing those sociopaths running Penn State were actually able to sleep at night, knowing their actions allowed Sandusky to roam free and prey on kids. Disgusting.
    Oh, yeah, melt the damn statue.

  10. “Dig up his grave! Piss on his bones!”
    He’s dead people. Jeez.
    We all knew Michael Jackson was a pedophile, but I didn’t see any of us calling child services.

  11. @jvr hating knuckle dragger
    We tried but Jackson had way too many high priced lawyers.

  12. “..if you believe those dumbasses YOUR fucking stupid.” Classic Shaun Edward. Classic. Melt that shit.

  13. looks the the Paterno defenders are running out of steam…. Melt it!

  14. “CNN IS A FUCKING JOKE I GETTER NEWS OFF OF 2 YR OLDS”
    Posted by: Some inbred penn state MORON graduate.
    You are penn state. No one with half a brain can stand penn state, or it’s woefully unintelligent, obnoxious alumni. Go watch college football and pretend it means a fucking thing. I legitimately feel embarrassed for people when they tell me they went to such a shitty, uncultured, Midwest-moron saturated diploma factory.

  15. Somebody high up is doing damage control with this investigation. Louis Freeh (ex FBI Director) is overseeing the investigation. Word is then Mayor Rendell knew of allegations.

  16. I’m not a PSU fan, but it seems to me that Paterno went to his superiors, told them to go to the authorities, and they didn’t. Spanier, Curley and Schwartz were clearly guilty of obstruction of justice by not alerting the police to the goings on in the PSU locker rooms, but Paterno, as a public educator, is not responsible for talking to authorities. As a matter of fact, had he told the police, and Sandusky was found innocent, he could’ve been sued for libel, and the university would not have defended him because he went over the heads of his superiors.

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